The Fit EV's exceptionally efficient design – encompassing everything from savvy powertrain design, weight-conscious engineering and effective aerodynamics – makes the most of the Fit EV's smaller battery. Additionally, the Fit EV battery can be recharged in less than 3 hours from a low charge indicator illumination point when connected to a 240-volt circuit.

"Just as important as the industry-leading fuel-efficiency and fast recharging time, as a Honda, the 2013 Fit EV will be an absolute kick to drive," said Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office.

The Fit EV's 92 kilowatt (123 horsepower) coaxial electric motor generates 189 ft-lb of torque, and is teamed to a chassis with a fully-independent suspension and a driver-selectable 3-mode electric drive system adapted from the CR-Z Sport Hybrid.

The key to maximizing energy efficiency is Honda’s new regenerative braking system. The Fit EV features an electric braking system that uses an electric motor to directly drive the pump that serves the brake fluid.

This system has very high accuracy. This means more efficiency. It’s more faithful to the brake input from the driver. [Honda estimates that the servo-based system increasing efficiency by at least 5 percent.]

When you take your foot off the accelerator, you immediately have a little bit of regenerative braking. Then, you put your foot on the brake—and if you look at the curve on the hydraulic system, it goes up very sharply. But if you look at the yellow zone in the graph, [in the old system] the regeneration doesn’t go up as sharply and it’s delayed. The idea of the new system is to bring the regenerative yellow zone closer to the hydraulic response.

The first part of the slope is very similar to the hydraulic. Then, as you start reaching the regeneration limit, the slope gradually slows down a little and reaches the limit after what the hydraulic system can do. After that, you can keep regeneration system at the highest level longer than the current system. And just before you stop, the drop is even sharper than the old regeneration system.